Written by: Estel Soriano Bergua
On August 4th, unanimous approval by Seattle City Council solidified an amendment to the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise levy (FEPP). The amendment was proposed by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and will fund universal breakfast and lunch for all Seattle Public Schools starting this fall. Mayor Wilson has made this one of her top priorities since taking office in January of this year. However, the choice to utilize funding from the FEPP levy has been a controversial topic.
In November of 2025, the community of Seattle approved the levy, titled The Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy Implementation and Evaluation Plan. It was renewed with an 80% approval for another six years, meaning that it will be in effect until 2031. The program will have funding of $1.3 billion to support different aspects in communities that require the most help. The FEPP was initially created 35 years ago, passed for the first time in 1990 and has been renewed half a dozen times. The funding will mainly be distributed among early learning, K-12 Health and Safety, and Post-Secondary Education and Career Support.
Early Learning will be funded with $658.2 million which will help to double affordable child-care slots from 600 to 1,400 for children of low-income households. Furthermore, the program will extend 600 more slots for the Seattle Preschool Program (SPS). Since its establishment in 2015, SPS has already supported more than 12,000 children.
K-12 Health and Safety will receive $235 million to support five School-Based Health Centers in Seattle Public Schools. These clinics are often located inside schools and provide on-site care for students who do not have the time or access to healthcare. Additionally, the funding will help provide physical health care as well as mental health care, both in person and via telehealth.
Post-Secondary Education and Career Support will receive $82.5 million to provide up to two years of tuition-free college. About 1,475 scholars annually from all Seattle Public High Schools will benefit from this opportunity. Additionally, Seattle public students will have the opportunity to explore pathways in trade through the Seattle Promise Program.
The Seattle Promise Program has three core parts including free tuition, equity scholarships, and student support and advising. The program doesn’t simply provide financial aid to earn a two-year degree or trade, but it establishes guidance for students during their time enrolled. As mentioned in the outline of the program, “Seattle Promise is designed to prepare students for career success and increase the number of Seattle public high school graduates earning certificates, credentials and degrees.”
After Mayor Wilson initially proposed that she was planning on using money from the program, several members of the Seattle City Council raised concerns about whether it was the best use of the FEPP fund. Mayor Wilson’s original plan was to utilize the money from the recently passed millionaire’s tax to fund her Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch plan. Council President Joy Hollingsworth (District 3) and Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9) of the Seattle City Council were unconvinced by Wilson’s proposal and noted that the Universal Breakfast and Lunch program should be funded with a different strategy instead.
Less than 24 hours after the debate, Hollingsworth and Council member Dan Strauss proposed a new idea on how Mayor Wilson could get the funding. Their plan involved redirecting $3 million from the city’s general fund to finance the Universal Breakfast and Lunch program. The debate came to an end when the Finance, Native Communities and Tribal Governments Committee met on August 4th to discuss whether they would approve the proposal. According to the Seattle Times, the City Council’s finance committee voted 5-0 to approve $3.6 million in funding for Mayor Wilson’s program. The money will be redirected from a North Seattle affordable housing project’s budget surplus.
The implementation of free breakfast and lunch at all Seattle Public Schools is a step towards lowering food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 1 in 10 people in Washington state are food insecure, which means they are unsure of how to acquire future meals. Food insecurity has been on the rise across the United States since 2021. According to the UW Department of Epidemiology, “9.5% of Washingtonians classified as food insecure in 2023.” Food insecurity isn’t solely uncertainty of future meals. It can also contribute to future chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and/or poor mental health.
The continuation of this levy brings hope for the future of communities who don’t always have access to the same opportunities in order to succeed. Additionally, the expansion of the program’s funding means more families, who often barely meet approval qualifications, can also have access to the programs put in place. Allowing students across all public schools to access free meals will ensure their focus on their education and success. The importance of education is not placed into question here but instead valued in comparison to the health of students. Schools are designed to be safe spaces for children. Therefore, food equity should be at the center of the quality of learning.
While the FEPP levy is mostly region based for those who live in Seattle, similar programs are in place here at UW Bothell. The Basic Needs Program at the Health & Wellness Center includes resources such as Basic Needs Resource Navigator, Husky Food Pantry and Parenting Student Resource Program. Students are able to book an appointment through Navigate to discuss or email basicneeds@uw.edu for any questions regardless of socioeconomic status.
Leave a Reply